NEW DELHI: Indian Muslims appear upset at the reported suggestion ‘of Israel foreign minister ‘Shimon? Peres that the only solution to the Kashmir problem was settlement of non-Muslims in ‘Kashmir ‘So that the Muslims arc reduced to a minority. Peres was ‘in India last week. The visit was the first by a high level representative of Israel with which India had no relations all these decades. Saifud Din Soz, a member of parliament from Kashmir, condemned the demographic trans formation idea and warmed the BJP whose exuberance extracted the Suggestion from the Israeli foreign minister of dire consequences, Soz noted that BJP leader Advani had passionately asked the prime minister to pay heed to Peres ideas on solving the problem of “terror ism” in the country, “Not only this, the Isracli ambassador went to the extent of asking India to abrogate article 370 of the Indian Constitution which gave certain nights to Kashmir to maintain its identity.

The Israeli foreign minister’s idea of demographic transformation of Kashmir was revealed for the first time by pro R.S.S. Indian Express whose political correspondent, who wrote the story, belongs to the R.S.S. The revelation embarrassed both the Israeli government and the Indian government Indian authorities themselves arranged a dinner meeting between Peres and Advani where the suggestion was made. The dinner was also shared by India’s pro-fascist agriculture minister Balram Jakhar. The latter himself some time ago had’ said that the killing of core of Sikhs would not be too big a price for the unity of India, Housing boards and resettlement departments are headed by officers from U;P. and other neigh boring states to achieve the purpose. A U.P. officer Verma headed the Chandigarh housing board for years, His policies led to converting Chandigarh into a Hindi speaking Hindu majority town. Verma was later made chief of Puniab housing board where he repeated the same policy. At present, Punjab’s housing board is headed by Joshi, another U.P. officer.

Akalis at one stage had objected to India’s demographic transformation policy but later kept silent. However, militants in their own fashion protected against the policy and stopped the process for some time which evidently has now been resumed.

Article extracted from this publication >>  June 4, 1993